parapet

par·a·pet

noun \ˈpa-rə-pət, -ˌpet\

Definition of PARAPET

1

: a wall, rampart, or elevation of earth or stone to protect soldiers

2

: a low wall or railing to protect the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge —called also parapet wall

— par·a·pet·ed \-ˌpe-təd\ adjective

Examples of PARAPET

1. The invaders fired arrows over the castle's parapet.

Illustration of PARAPET

Origin of PARAPET

Italian parapetto, from parare to shield (from Latin, to prepare) + petto chest, from Latin pectus — more at pare, pectoral

First Known Use: 1590

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, pilaster, plinth

Rhymes with PARAPET

aiguillette, alphabet, anisette, avocet, banneret, basinet, bassinet, bayonet, bobbinet, bouncing bet, briolette, burgonet, calumet, canzonet, castanet, cellarette, chemisette, cigarette, clarinet, Cook Inlet, coronet, corselet, dragonet, dresser set, electret, en brochette, epaulet, Ethernet, etiquette, falconet, farmerette, featurette, flageolet, flannelette, great egret, guillemet, heavyset, jaconet, Joliet, Juliet, kitchenette, landaulet, lanneret, launderette, leatherette, luncheonette, maisonette, majorette, marmoset, marquisette, martinet, mignonette, minaret, minuet, miquelet, netiquette, novelette, oubliette, paupiette, photoset, pirouette, plasma jet, quodlibet, rondelet, safety net, satinet, scilicet, sermonette, serviette, silhouette, sobriquet, solleret, somerset, Somerset, soviet, space cadet, spinneret, statuette, stockinette, suffragette, superjet, swimmeret, taboret, teacher's pet, thermoset, towelette, trebuchet, tricolette, triple threat, underlet, usherette, vinaigrette, wagonette, web-offset